Sleep Apnea and Snoring Linked to Accelerated Aging in New Study
Anyone who struggles with sleep apnea or frequent snoring knows how hard it is to get a good night’s sleep. A new study has linked these sleep disorders to accelerated aging as well. Luckily, the specialists at South Texas Sinus Institute are here to help.
In a study published this month, researchers at Harvard’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health’s Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences and Harvard Medical School’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital linked “sleep-disordered breathing” caused by disruptions like sleep apnea and frequent snoring with age acceleration if left untreated.
“People’s biological age might not be the same as their chronological age,” said lead author Xiaoyu Li, Sc.D. “Individuals whose biological age is higher than their chronological age exhibit age acceleration or fast aging. In our study, we found that more severe sleep-disordered breathing is associated with epigenetic age acceleration. Our data provide biological evidence supporting adverse physiological and health effects of untreated sleep-disordered breathing.”
Luckily, the researchers noted that these sleep disruptions are treatable and the harmful long term effects reversible. That’s where South Texas Sinus Institute comes in: we diagnose and treat sleep apnea, upper airway obstruction and snoring. Learn more about sleep apnea and how STSI can help you in this Medical Minute, featuring Blake Hensler, MPAS, PA-C:
